At the same time, billions of dollars of local wealth bleeds yearly from Philly’s economy, lost to contracts to firms outside this region. Were we to retain this money and reduce the basic costs of living, lower-income residents would have more money with which to purchase goods and services from one another at neighborhood businesses. They’d even have enough money to shop in Center City.
Several related adjustments are therefore needed to facilitate green transitions: • MAJOR EMPLOYERS would embrace job sharing and flextime, and consider the benefits to themselves and society of sixhour days without reduced pay. Kellogg's thrived on this basis for 54 years. All employers would end racial bias in hiring and invest in workers as assets (even as friends) rather than as costs. Research shows that labor productivity and yearly business growth are highest in countries where income is most equal (Economist 11/5/94 p.21). Purchasing from regional suppliers is essential to green progress. Unit costs reduce as regional green manufacturing expands. • GOVERNMENT power to shop locally and hire locals is a major green engine. Government’s ownership of vacant lands and buildings, especially in Philadelphia, gives regulators great power to empower neighborhoods. See Urban Land Reform Law. City Hall would amend building codes to encourage greywater systems, compost toilets and solar envelope zoning. Government expands green tax credits (PREP, GRTC) rather than tax breaks, bailouts and below-cost sale of raw materials. Many local governments are catching on to better kinds of job development. They've quit chasing franchises. St. Paul, Minnesota, for example, started a Homegrown Economy Project. Eugene, Oregon hosts the Buy Oregon project, which finds local contractors to bid for regional manufacturing subcontracts. The New Economy Project of Littleton, Colorado builds economic development from inside. Their research shows that 90% of new jobs are created by local business. The federal study "Local Economic Development Tools" concludes that expansion of local firms through import replacement programs can generate ten times more jobs than imported capital. • BANKERS would open branches in poor neighborhoods and learn that small loans are actually likelier to be fully and promptly repaid. Chicago's South Shore Bank and India's Grameen Bank have proven the superior safety of small loans to lowincome people. This requires an end to racial bias in lending. • SCHOOLS would become exciting again by teaching all students how to become powerful community managers and creators of jobs, as well as active union and co-op members, rather than obedient drones. • MEDIA would use their cultural power to inspire trust and enthusiasm for the future, rather than fear and dread. • PLANNING DEPARTMENTS would become public resource and innovation centers, welcoming new ideas, promoting equitable development.